In the tax filing process, there are few tasks that feel as daunting as talking to a human at the Internal Revenue Service.
Taxpayers who contact the IRS continue to experience long wait times, according to the 2023 annual report published by the Taxpayer Advocate Service, an independent organization maintained by the IRS.
But in some cases, you must reach out to an agent with a complex question about your filing, or to get more information to successfully complete your return.
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The good news is that most of what you need can be done online, through the IRS website or its app IRS2Go. The IRS’s interactive Tax Assistant search tool can answer many anonymous questions about tax laws that are specific to your situation.
The IRS’s refund tracker also tells taxpayers what stage their refund is in once it’s been filed and 24 hours have passed. If there is a problem with your refund that you need to contact the IRS, the refund status checker will let you know how to do so.
If you can’t find the answer to your question through the IRS website or app, you can contact the agency directly or visit a local IRS office. Here’s a step-by-step guide to doing both:
1. Call the IRS.
You can contact the IRS by phone about your personal return by calling 1-800-829-1040. This phone line is open from 7 am to 7 pm local time.
According to the IRS, wait times can average four minutes, although some callers may experience longer wait times, especially on Mondays and Tuesdays and around the April deadline to file your taxes. (When Mashable called on a recent Wednesday afternoon, the wait time was estimated at 15 to 30 minutes.)
In your search for information on how to talk to a human at the IRS, you may come across websites that are not affiliated with the IRS that offer a phone tree with detailed instructions to choose from. has gone
Mashable is not offering the same guidelines because the phone tree selection may change over time. However, it is important to listen closely to each prompt as there are many depending on your needs.
For example, asking about a refund is a separate prompt from questions related to your personal taxes. The same is true if you have questions about taxes related to the health care law.
When listening to the selections, make sure you’re not multitasking; It will be easy to lose your momentum or get distracted. Also, set random times and prepare for long waiting periods. You don’t want to go through the trouble of calling and navigating the phone tree only to realize you don’t have enough time to wait for an agent.
2. Visit a local IRS office.
The IRS has local offices throughout the country where you can speak directly with an agent. You can find your nearest location by using the IRS’ Taxpayer Assistance Center Office Locator tool.
The number of offices varies from state to state. In Arkansas, for example, there are three offices, one each in Fayetteville, Jonesboro and Little Rock. In California, however, there are 28 locations, including some in the Los Angeles area.
Services typically provided in local offices include account inquiries, basic individual tax law assistance, and payment arrangements. Call the location nearest you in advance to schedule an appointment. Make sure you arrive at the appointment prepared with documents, including a current government-issued photo ID, a taxpayer identification number (such as a Social Security number), and any tax documents.
While an in-person visit to a local IRS office may not be possible for every taxpayer, it can be the perfect solution for those who can access a location and want to speak face-to-face with someone who can answer their questions. can give
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